EU Allocates Extra €30 Million to Help Lebanon Cope with Refugee Crisis

The European Union has adopted a decision to provide additional financial support to Lebanon to mitigate the impact of the Syrian crisis in the country, the EU delegation to Lebanon announced on Tuesday.

“Lebanon receives the highest number of people fleeing from Syria – Syrians as well as Palestine refugees from Syria -- and we know that it puts this country under enormous strain,” said Stefan Fule, European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy.

“The hospitality and generosity displayed by the Lebanese towards their neighbors is admirable and commendable. The EU remains committed to assisting Lebanon in its response to the refugee crisis,” he added.

At the same time, he welcomed Lebanon's comprehensive response plan to deal with the refugee crisis and conveyed the European Union's appreciation of the fact that Lebanon keeps its borders open to people fleeing the violence in the neighboring country.

The European assistance will focus on “capacity building in Lebanese institutions to deal with the crisis, improving access to educational and early childhood development services for both Syrian refugees and those Lebanese communities hosting refugees often in their own homes, empowering local communities socially and economically, strengthening existing structures for the care of children and other vulnerable groups and providing support to Palestine refugees from Syria.”

Out of the €30 million announced to help Lebanon to cope with the refugee crisis, €5 million would be designated for Palestine refugees from Syria, the European commission said.

The additional €30 million brings the total amount of financial assistance offered by the European Union to Lebanon in relation to the Syrian crisis to more than €93 million in humanitarian and non-humanitarian aid.

While being the smallest of Syria's neighboring countries, Lebanon hosts the highest number of refugees. By the last week of April it had received more than 445,000 Syrian refugees, as well as an estimated 40,000 Palestine refugees from Syria.